At this time in our history it is seven years before the department becomes a total paid fire department, the individual volunteer companies had organized and have paid permanant men at each house. Captain William Davis was a permanant man of the Franklin Engine Company on N. Hyde Park Ave. On the evening of June 10, 1894 around 10:45 pm he was alone and walking past the horse stalls when one of the horses kicked him in the chest. He was knocked down against a bale of hay in the stall, he was able to drag himself to a chair away from the horse. John Lowry was walking by and heard Captain Davis. A doctor was called along with the captain's family to be by his side, he was able to describe what happened but sadly he passed at 6:30 am the next day.

Before being delivered to the Franklin Engine Company the horse was actually rejected by the Phoenix Hose Company and the Relief Hose Company after being deemed unfit.

Captain Davis was also a vertern of the civil war, he volunteered in 1861 and was honorably discharged in 1864.

( Special thanks to Joseph Klapatch for finding this piece of history )